Burial Ground

Qinghe City was a central hub in the northern lands of Yan, bordering the south. It took its name from the Qinghe River that flowed past its walls.

Relying on this great river, Qinghe City's canal transport had flourished for centuries, driving rapid economic growth in the process.

Even now, though the flames of war had occasionally licked at its gates over the years, a great figure held court here, and the city remained largely untouched by the turmoil.

Today, Qinghe City ranked firmly among the top three of all Yan's cities, not just in the north. It was an undisputed supercity of over a million souls, the unrivaled jewel of the northern frontier!

It was the ninth month, deep in the autumn season.

With the scorching summer barely past, the weather had finally begun to cool. The young masters and ladies of Qinghe City, who had been cooped up indoors for months by the oppressive heat, now received heaven's blessing at last. They wasted no time in calling friends and companions, inviting one another to drift and play on the endless Qinghe River—composing poems, savoring fine wine and delicacies, and indulging in the utmost pleasures of the world.

For a time, the vast river was dotted with ornately carved and painted vessels. Countless young nobles in brocade, each with an air of distinction and striking features, could be seen everywhere, joined by common folk who had taken to the water for their own amusement.

Thus, outside Qinghe City, a lively scene of peace and prosperity unfolded—a portrait of an age of abundance, with the people living and working in contentment.

"Oh? What a thriving city. I've long heard that Qinghe City in Qingyuan Prefecture, northern Yan, was incomparably prosperous, once called the central hub of Yan's north and south. I thought that after more than a decade of war, it would have been ravaged—yet here, in such times, it still maintains this visage of a golden age. Truly rare!"

Outside Qinghe City, Gu Han, who had been traveling for months and was weary from the journey, looked at the countless figures and boats crowding the harbor. His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but praise aloud.

It wasn't that he was unsophisticated. In his first life as a modern man, he had seen international metropolises ten times more bustling than Qinghe City.

But in this era of endless war, with the realm yet ununified, it was already a feat for other cities to avoid fields of starving corpses and the exchange of children for food. To imagine a city like Qinghe City, seemingly untouched by war, still bustling with life and maintaining the air of a golden age—that was beyond hope!

"Haha! Young master must be from out of town! Not knowing the might of our Qinghe City is only natural. But would you care to hear this old man tell you a thing or two?"

As Gu Han's words fell, an old man nearby—his face wrinkled like withered wood, wearing a bamboo hat and coarse linen clothes, with graying hair, about sixty or seventy years old—spoke to Gu Han in a halting Yan official dialect.

Now, after a few months of being a layman, Gu Han had grown a fair amount of black hair. Though not as long as other men's, it wasn't short either. He had tied it casually with a straw rope, giving him the look of a wandering martial artist, so no one would immediately peg him as a former monk.

"Oh? How so? Please, boatman, tell me in detail."

Gu Han's face showed a hint of curiosity. He smiled slightly and asked the old man.

"Haha, that's a long tale. Would the young master care to come aboard my boat for a cup of watery wine? This old man will tell you all about it."

Seeing Gu Han's agreement, the boatman's face lit up with an excited grin, and he pressed on.

"Fine. I'll charter your boat for today. Take me out on the river to have a look."

Gu Han understood the situation. He reached into his bosom, pulled out a small ingot of silver weighing about five taels, tossed it to the boatman, and said with a smile.

"Right away, young master! Follow this old man."

With the gleaming silver in his arms, the old boatman's smile grew even wider. He quickly led Gu Han through a winding path to a small boat moored at the harbor, about five or six meters long and a little over a meter wide.

"Girl, come out and greet the guest!"

The old boatman led Gu Han aboard, cast off the anchor, and shouted toward the cabin. Soon, a pleasant female voice answered from within:

"Coming, Grandfather!"

Gu Han followed the sound and saw a plainly dressed fisher girl, about sixteen or seventeen, with a delicate face, stepping gracefully out of the simple cabin.

"Greetings, young master!"

The girl performed a proper lady's bow as soon as she saw Gu Han, her voice gentle.

"Enough, girl. Hurry and prepare some wine and food. This young master has chartered our boat for the day."

Seeing no particular reaction on Gu Han's face, the old boatman's expression flickered with disappointment before he ordered the girl.

"Yes, Grandfather!"

The girl nodded obediently, then returned to the cabin to start preparing the meal.

"Cast off!"

Once the girl was back in the cabin, the old boatman nodded in satisfaction. He let out a loud shout, his white beard trembling, and pushed off with his bamboo pole. The small boat shot away from the harbor like an arrow from a bow, heading into the distance.

"Young master, I didn't finish what I was saying earlier. You asked me how Qinghe City is so formidable. I held back then to get you aboard. Now that you've favored me with your custom, this old man will tell you. Young master, would you still like to hear it?"

Once they had left the harbor, the old boatman seemed to grow extremely excited. Not only did he busy himself with serving Gu Han wine and food, but he also asked eagerly.

"Mm. Go ahead, then."

Gu Han took a bite of the dish the girl had just brought, drank a cup of watery wine, and nodded with a smile. He was genuinely a little curious about this.

"Good! Then, young master, I'll start from fifteen years ago."

Seeing Gu Han eat and drink, the old boatman seemed even more pleased. He began to explain:

"Fifteen years ago, not long after the previous King of Yan passed away and the Crown Prince ascended the throne, chaos erupted across the realm. Heroes rose from all sides.

In Yan's Jiangnan region, King Tang Li Hanhai held sway—though I hear the south has since fallen entirely to the barbarians, so we'll set that aside.

In the northwest, King Ming Zhu Hong rules. That man is a grand strategist; he's forged the entire northwest into an iron bastion. Under him, the twin generals Xu Yuan and Chang Jian are rare Great Accomplishment of Internal Qi martial artists, with few able to challenge them.

As for the most prosperous and vast region of Great Yan—the north—it's a patchwork of feudal lords. Not counting the minor ones, there are three great lords alone. They've kept the entire north warring year after year, leaving the people destitute!"

The old boatman shook his head and sighed as he spoke.

"Mm. I know of those three lords: King Chen Liu Sijie, King Wei Zhao Xu, and King Zhou Zhang Ye. But what does that have to do with Qinghe City? Is Qinghe City under one of these three lords?"

Gu Han ate his food and drink as he listened, replying in between bites.

Though he never paid attention to the wars between the feudal lords, he had still heard of the famous Three Kings. After all, they were figures as renowned as King Tang Li Hanhai and King Ming Zhu Hong. For anyone traveling outside, it would be hard not to know of them, even if they wished otherwise.

"No."

The old boatman shook his head and said:

"If Qinghe City were truly under the control of those three kings, there wouldn't be such good days as now. Because no matter how prosperous a city under their rule might be, it cannot escape the ravages of war. Even if it doesn't fall into ruin, it would never see such a thriving scene. So, the master of Qinghe City is not one of the Three Kings, but someone else entirely."

"Oh? Who is that?"

Gu Han raised an eyebrow and pressed on.

"It is His Majesty, Prince Liu Zongzhou!"

As soon as Gu Han's words fell, the boatman's eyes filled with admiration as he replied.

"Mm, Prince Liu? What is his background?"

Hearing this unfamiliar title, doubt stirred in Gu Han's heart.

After all, his knowledge of the powerful figures in this world was far too shallow. Those men might be formidable to others—wielding immense influence, their words deciding life and death—but to him, they were merely ordinary people. No matter how they could summon wind and rain in the outside world, how could they stand against a pair of iron fists?

"Ah, sir! Speaking of this Prince Liu, his origins are truly grand. This Prince Liu is not like those self-proclaimed lords outside; he was personally granted his title by the Emperor himself.

Hundreds of years ago, when the Yan Kingdom was first established, the Grand Ancestor was overjoyed and rewarded his meritorious ministers, granting kingships and noble titles to his generals. The Liu King Ancestor, due to his immense contributions and extraordinary martial prowess—having already achieved Inner Qi—had saved the Grand Ancestor's life several times and earned his deep trust. Thus, he was granted the title of King of the First Rank, hereditary and perpetual.

At the same time, the small city of Qinghe, then near Qinghe, was bestowed upon the Liu King as his fief. After hundreds of years of development, it has become what it is today.

Moreover, because the Liu Family has been rooted in Qinghe City for centuries, their strength has accumulated to an unfathomable depth. In times of peace, it was not apparent, but now that chaos has swept the realm, they have bared their fangs to the world.

Not only do they have thousands of Skin Tempering martial artists in their household, already formed into an army, but they also have hundreds of Muscle Tendon Strengthening martial artists, dozens of Blood Tempering martial artists, and four or five Inner Qi experts—truly overwhelming power.

For now, although the Liu Family has no ambition to contend for the world and is content to hole up in this small Qinghe City, with such terrifying strength, none of the three great northern lords are willing to provoke them. That is why, while war rages outside, Qinghe City bustles with people, presenting a scene of prosperity!"

The old boatman chatted leisurely with Gu Han, covering all manner of topics under heaven and earth. Only after three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, with jug after jug of watery liquor exchanged, did the small boat finally arrive at a secluded spot on the Qinghe River.

Around them, aside from the faint outline of a large pleasure boat, there was no other sign of human presence.

"Sir, might this old man ask you a question?"

In the silent river, surrounded by stillness broken only by rippling water and the occasional cry of apes from both banks, the boatman at the front suddenly stopped plying his oar. His face, wrinkled like tree bark, broke into a broad smile as he turned to Gu Han.

"What question?"

Gu Han, who had been idly enjoying the scenery, paused at the words. He drained the cup of wine in his hand and returned the boatman's smile with a question of his own.

"May I ask, sir, how do you find the scenery around here?"

Just as the boatman was about to speak, the boatwoman—delicate-featured and seemingly frail—stepped gracefully out of the cabin. Her voice was pleasant as she smiled and asked.

"Mm, rippling blue waves, jagged cliffs on all sides, white apes keeping company on the banks with their echoing calls—truly a place of excellent scenery.

And so, it serves perfectly as a burial ground for the two of you!"

Gu Han smiled as he replied, then slowly rose to his feet. The terrifying blood energy within him, like that of a dragon or an elephant, erupted forth—as if the very stones of the earth would split and the heavens would shake!